The Ironwood Ridge Nighthawks girls’ softball team has won its
first two games of the 5A-II state softball playoffs.

The first two wins took place on a common field against common
opponents. By virtue of their high seed (No. 3), the Nighthawks
have gotten to host two games. Last Saturday, they defeated No. 14
Mountain View, 15-5.

The win marked the third time they had beaten the Mountain Lions
in 2011. On Tuesday, they won at home over Sunnyside, 5-3. It
marked their third win over the Blue Devils this year.

“Playing a team three times can be a challenge,” said Nighthawks
coach Randy Anway.

In the two-loss elimination tournament, the Nighthawks next met
No. 10 Chaparral on Saturday, May 7 at Sandra Day O’Connor Park.
(see related story)

The win over the Blue Devils was a down-to-the wire battle.
Taking a 5-3 lead into the seventh, Nighthawks’ pitcher Makayla
McAdams (20-6) retired the first two batters, before a walk and an
error put the tying runners on base.

But with the pressure on, McAdams fanned Devils’ cleanup batter
Alexis Ayala to end the game.

The Nighthawks took the lead for good during a fifth-inning
rally. Lauren Robinson doubled. With two down, Erin Satterfield
belted a two-run homerun to tie it at three. Then, Jordan Rocker
tagged base on an infield hit, before Robin Landrith doubled her
home with the go-ahead run.

In a very well-played defensive game, Ridge made only one error,
while Sunnyside had none.

Ironwood bats added an insurance run in the sixth, as the bottom
half of the lineup produced.

Danielle Colwill and Alexis Clinton hit singles. With one down,
Robinson hit an RBI single to give Ironwood a 5-3 lead.

“We came back and got the hits we needed,” McAdams said. “We
made the plays we needed.”

Colwill, Clinton, and Robinson finished with two hits each for
the home team.

Things started out slowly for the Nighthawks who managed only
three hits and trailed 3-1 after four innings.

With two down in the Sunnyside third, Amanda Spradling singled.
Adriana Rosthenhausler also singled. Then, came the at-bat of the
game. Desaray Akins had an at-bat that seemed to last about 15
minutes, but was at least 10 pitches long.

She blasted two balls foul over the left-field fence, and fouled
off others to stay alive. Finally, she got her pitch and nailed it
over the center-field fence for a three-run home run and a 3-1
Sunnyside lead.

How did McAdams feel at that point?

“I was extremely concerned,” McAdams said. “They were getting on
the pitches.”

McAdams, who picked up her 20th win of the season, also defeated
Sunnyside for the third time. She did it by settling down to allow
only two hits and two walks after the third.

McAdams allowed three runs, six hits and two walks in her seven
innings. She struck out five.

The next time Akins came up, she was unintentionally walked.
McAdams then retired Ayala on a grounder to end the threat.

“It’s a team sport,” Satterfield said. “We’re always there for
each other.”

The Nighthawks effort was no more evident than on Satterfield’s
jersey after the game. It was dirty from top to bottom, after she
spent most of Tuesday’s game diving for anything near third
base.

“I usually (get dirty) do,” Satterfield said.

Anway knows it doesn’t get any easier for his team as they go
deeper into the playoffs. He knows that the Sunnyside win was no
easy one.

“They’re a great team,” Anway said. “Pete (Palomarez) does an
outstanding job. He has them mentally ready to play.”

What do the Nighthawks need to do to win the state title?

“Control the energy level,” Anway said. “Every team is a little
different. I need to keep them mentally focused.”